The average person almost never gets in contact with lawyers and so forth, but when they do they are basically taken aback by legal expenses. While the fees that legal representatives demand are managed and set by the Law Society, such rates are heavy and frequently way too expensive for the standard individual. Your initial appointment with an attorney is frequently free of fees and allows the lawyer the chance of determining the possibility of your scenario. The attorney at this time should also explain his tariff structure to you. You are entitled to a copy of the tariff structure. Up to this point legal costs are marginal and easily understood.
Where specific efforts are commenced like transport of property the fees are charged as outlined by set parameters and such costs can be worked out up front and can be budgeted for. When however it concerns a lawsuit the charges are generally a mystery quantity and is influenced by such criteria as time, the volume of correspondence, the number of phone calls, research time, number of court appearances and other parameters. Such legal expenses, while costed at prescribed rates, are in the main not foreseeable in particular as time passes without finality in the case. A very simple issue involving a handful of letters might cost you R1000 or more
In relation to even relatively simple lawsuits, including advocates, R100 000 won’t buy you plenty. Setting aside a liquidation, as an example, will cost not less than R20 000. The point is: Think about litigation, even if you are comparatively prosperous. Will it accomplish what you expected and would the final price have been worth it?
The problem of legal expenses unfortunately precludes many individuals of pursuing justice, giving the individual or institution with the necessary financial resources the advantage, even without entering an attorney’s office No, you are right – even the law is not necessarily fair, particularly when it comes to legal expenses. Consider some of the recent notable court cases where the State and or other establishments have been involved. The attorney’s fees in such cases ran into millions of Rand. It’s estimated that in one case where a particular person was accused of murder, but was acquitted, it cost his loved ones well over R14 000 000
So, be cool – the next time your neighbour’s dog barks at you – don’t threaten legal action unless you won the Lotto and don’t know what to do with the funds. You need to know that senior council charge upward of R10 000 per court day, PLUS you have to pay for their assistants and researchers.
Many cases take an extended time to resolve and are subject to all sorts of stalling and other tactics by the opposite party, costing you money as well – AND just in case you lose the case, you will be required to pay the legal expenses of your opponent as well. OUCH
Rather live the easy life and don’t look for trouble, don’t cheat on the tax man, love your spouse forever and keep your pet in the yard all the time.




